Treatment of tibial bone defects with distraction osteogenesis

Treatment of fractures with bone defect of the tibia is not only a challenge but also an experience for orthopaedic surgeons. 43 tibia of 41 cases with tibial bone defects were treated by distraction osteogenesis method in our clinic between January 1989 and July 1996. Age range was between 19 and 36 (mean 24.8) Cases were radiologically followed up weekly for the first month and monthly thereafter with an average of 40.7 months. Although most cases were traumatised with a high energy gunshot injury mostly requiring amputation, we succesfully treated all the cases with distraction osteogenesis. We concluded that this is an effective and alternative method to other treatment modalities.